Art

Services

This is what I do

Creative Direction

When design is at the center of business decisions, anything is possible. Successful design-driven organizations are often distinguished by a close personal rapport between the top business leader and a top designer.

Publication Design

Award-winning design and innovative typography combine with strong editorial imagery and skillful production for engaging books and magazines.

New Media Strategies

Today's consumer is more discerning than ever. The appeal of well-designed media cannot be underestimated.

Integrated print and new media creative

About me

Facts about me

I am grateful to have a career a publication designer. It's a job I love. I got my start just after College at Leisure Press, a sports book publisher in California (the first book cover I designed was entitled The Sexy Buttocks). As a young man I explored west-coast highways with my BMW R75/6 motorcycle. I backpacked Yosemite and Big Sur, was inspired by California-Swiss design and Berkeley singer-songwriters. Apparently, I was “Born to be Mild” (insert Max Ehrmann’s Desiderata poem here).
After returning home to Memphis, I soon met my soul-mate Susan. Together, we raised two absolutely amazing daughters, Monika and Mariel. They are perhaps our best design collaboration so far.

Resume

My work experiences

2010 - 2013

Creative Director at Contemporary Media

I design Memphis, a monthly city magazine and MBQ, a bi-monthy business magazine

2002 - present

Brian Groppe Design

Freelance Art Director

Professional Affiliations

To Brian, We are proud of your work.

— Timothy Leary, Author, 60s Guru

“

Congratulations to you and your staff for producing the best work on Chicago since the Holiday Issue of 1951. Your boldness and intelligence in mixing past and present, your obvious love of color and architecture‚—without losing sight of the fact that Chicago is a city of people‚—all have contributed to your extraordinary view of our city. Thank you. I speak as, perhaps, Chicago’s dean of photo journalistic Life photographers‚—to give you the highest praise a photographer can give editors and art directors.

— Art Shay, Photographer featured in Chicago: Second to None

“

Brian...has just been incredible to work with on every level...what he does with my photos in selection, layout and design is an opportunity I can’t buy anywhere...He really knows how to bring on, nurture and feed photographers, and direct them, and is one of two of the very top art directors I have ever worked with. He does not miss even one visual beat and his ability to recognize important content and include it in his design juxtapositions, is a very rare talent.

Thanks!

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BACKGROUND PHOTO CREDITS:
Albert King photo by Jonathan Postal, Mississippi River photo and Photoshop collage by Brian Groppe; Vintage Elvis photo from Graceland Enterprises; both originally appeared in the book Memphis: New Visions, New Horizons; Folk Art Design for Folk Alliance International; Art direction and Underwater selfie by Brian Groppe